A BRADFORD councillor is hoping to “champion and celebrate” women from across the district as she prepares to host a special Zoom event this evening.

Councillor Fozia Shaheen, of the Toller ward, has stressed the importance of recognising women’s “successes and achievements” – especially amid the pandemic – following on from International Women’s Day earlier this week.

Cllr Shaheen, who is also the founder and director of Dream Big Aim High – a Girlington-based organisation which aims to support people with issues around mental health, learning disabilities, education, fitness and employment – added that many of the women who have been working tirelessly on the frontline against coronavirus are often overlooked.

In today’s Zoom event, which runs from 5.30pm to 7.30pm and features a “line-up of amazing women”, Cllr Shaheen will discuss how women in Bradford have made “a positive impact in society”.

“The Zoom event is open to everyone, men and women, and aims to champion and celebrate women in the Bradford district, especially in the year we’ve had, with the pandemic”, she said.

“I think it’s really important to understand that women across the world face so many challenges and barriers. In the wake of this, as women, we need to champion each other and be proud of who we are and what we’ve done and what we do every day.

“There are more barriers for women, but when we succeed, we make more paths for more women to come and walk in behind us.

“There are so many strong and empowered women, who all have so many things going on in their lives, but they have still managed to achieve.

“There are so many women working hard in their jobs – from barristers to surgeons, to mums home-schooling their children while working at the same time – and the pandemic has brought out some real unsung heroes.

“I think every woman’s success should be an inspiration to other women. We are a lot stronger together.

“Myself, I’m a young Asian, Muslim woman from a working-class family. There are obstacles, but I want to act as a role model to other women.

“As women, we must accept challenges. It's all about challenging yourself. Be authentic and brave, achieve a name and achieve a space, so when any other woman wants to enter that space too, she doesn’t have to work as hard.”

Those who will be speaking at the Zoom event tonight include Karen Dawber, Chief Nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Shamim Akhtar, Manager of mental health charity Roshni Ghar; Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council; Helen Davey, CEO of mental health charity Mind in Bradford; Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bradford; Rubina Burhan, Manager at the Girlington Centre and Khadijah Muhammad, Director of martial arts school Khadijah Combat Academy.

The meeting is open to all and can be accessed by clicking here. The meeting ID is 841 0442 0246 and the passcode is 122389.